What is Alzheimer's disease?

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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia in which sufferers experience memory issues that begin gradually and gradually worsen, explains the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease typically occurs in senior citizens aged 65 and over, but symptoms can also develop in individuals in their 40s and 50s.

In addition to memory impairment, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include anxiety, mental delusions, loss of cognitive function and sleep difficulties, according to Mayo Clinic. Alzheimer's disease is believed to be linked to a combination of factors that include a family history of the illness, lifestyle behaviors and environmental elements. The brains of Alzheimer's patients commonly contain cell abnormalities referred to as plaques or tangles. Plaques hinder brain cell communication, and tangles prevent nutrients from reaching the brain cells, which in turn results in cell death, adds Mayo Clinic.